The season’s second week, Dion Lewis told me his advice to Dave Wannstedt would be, “Run the ball.” Wannstedt has, he’s let Lewis do most of it and now the Pitt freshman is continuing to rack up notice for it.

Today, he was named one of 12 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award, annually given to the country’s best running back. Last week, he was named a semifinalist for the Maxwell College Football Player of the Year Award, and a midseason All-American by both CBSSports.com and SI.com.

Through nine games, Lewis has carried the ball 203 times for 1,139 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s caught a pass for another score and out in Pittsburgh,they’re comparing him to Tony Dorsett. Of course, the best part of this story is that Lewis had exactly ONE major college offer.

The other Doak Walker Award semifinalists are: Donald Buckram (Jr., UTEP), Jonathan Dwyer (Jr., Georgia Tech), Toby Gerhart (Sr., Stanford), Mark Ingram (So., Alabama), Ryan Mathews (Jr., Fresno State), Jacquizz Rodgers (So., Oregon State), C.J. Spiller (Sr., Clemson), Ben Tate (Sr., Auburn) and Ryan Williams (Redshirt-Fr., Virginia Tech). Three will be named finalists Nov. 23.